Sloppy Janes

Sometimes watching TV will give you ideas on what to make for dinner. I've found a new cooking show I'm falling in love with on the Cooking Channel - Kelsey's Essentials. Here's my variation of Sloppy Janes.

1 1/2 lb fresh ground turkey
1/2 finely diced green bell pepper
1/2 finely diced onion
One small can of tomato paste + one can water
1/4 cup Heinz Ketsup
Olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Orowheat brand wheat hamburger buns made with no milk
Directions:
In a large deep flying pan, add enough olive oil to coat bottom of pan. On medium-high heat, fry turkey, onion and green bell pepper. Break apart while cooking. Half way through, add seasonings. When the meat is throughly cooked, mix in tomato paste, water and Ketsup. Heat through, serve immediately spooning onto wheat buns.
Yield: 4 servings

Tuscan Soup

20 Foster Farms Homestyle Turkey meatballs
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
6 cups chicken broth
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can white beans, drained
6 oz fresh spinach, chopped
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large pot, heat oil. Add onions and garlic. Saute 3-5 minutes over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook covered for 15 minutes.

Serves 4.

Ultimate Party Meatballs

1 14 oz can Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
1 12 oz bottle Heinz chili sauce
2 lb bag frozen precooked turkey meatballs, defrosted (We use Foster Farms Homestyle Turkey meatballs because they have no dairy in their recipe.)

Directions:
*My quick cooking method with a 25 minute prep time*

Defrost meatballs in microwave for 8-10 minutes.

Add sauces into 4 qt sauce pan and whisk frequently. Heat over medium heat for 5 minutes or until mixture begins to boil, add meatballs. Lower heat to simmer until meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes.

- from Cooking Light Magazine, Dec. 2010

Note1: I gathered the ingredients at Von's tonight. The Heinz Chili sauce was found in the BBQ sauce section. Will try this weekend.

Note2: Discovered Heinz Chili Sauce is very much if not exactly like shrimp cocktail sauce. Mixed with cranberry sauce, it had truck loads of umami. So rich, this needs to be served with something bland like sourdough bread or white rice. I think by also adding chopped white onion and green bell pepper, it would round out the dish to make it a meal.

Tortilla Soup

I got this recipe from someone at work. She said it was supposed to be from Weight Watchers.

1 pound of ground beef or turkey
freshly ground black pepper
3 cans chili beans (any kind), drain
3 cans diced tomatoes
1 large onion, diced
1 can of corn, drain
1 can of diced green chilis
1 package of taco seasoning
1 15 ounce can of tomato sauce

1 package of hidden valley ranch salad dressing (sub soy sour cream + finely diced chives)

Garnish: Cilantro, tortilla chips and cheese (sub soy cheddar) to taste.

Directions:

In a large saucepan, brown meat seasoned with pepper and onions, drain, Add canned beans, veggies and seasoning. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add 1 tsp of prepared dressing and garnish with cilantro and cheese and tortilla chips to taste.

Plum Glaze

Zest of one orange
1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice
1/4 cup chinese plum sauce
1/4 cup honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp orange marmelade
2 tbsp finely minced ginger
1 tbsp finely minced garlic

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer 10 minutes (do not boil). Serve as a sauce for turkey in the place of gravy.